So you probably already figured out by the score that I thought this was terrible. Where should I start hmm ? Well how about first off the complete lack of staying true to the Manga or even the severely condensed animated OVA. There were so many things that didn't and couldn't have possibly made sense, like for example the scene when me shirk is fighting zombies hmmm let me think for a second..... Zombies .... No definitely don't remember that happening. Then there's shin killing Ryuken hmmmm.... Wow wasn't there someone really important to the overall storyline that actually killed him lol yeh that's right RAOH !!!!!!! He was only the most insane bad ass in the entire frigging manga and anime series, but instead he's shot by a gun ....... By shin ...... WTF. Well next Rin was it actually blind she was mute you freaking moronic director and beyond popular belief swinging your arms around like your prancing to a Christmas jingle while making your own fast punching sound effects does not actually make it look like your fists are moving faster then they actually are, you just look like someone freaking out on an acid trip. Last but not least I think in the very least the only reason for me anyways that this movie was watchable was because i personally saw Ben stiller from specifically zoo lander in the facial expressions that Gary Daniels had occupying his face the entire movie, don't believe me ? Watch the scene about 20 minutes in when "Kenshiro" heals Rins blindness c'mon that is so Ben stiller. Only difference well Ben is trying to be funny and succeeds, Gary well I'm going to go out on a limb and say he was totally serious and trying too hard. Well this was fun, you know writing the review not watching the movie, well accept for zoo lander oops I mean Kenshiro faces lol.

In a post-apocalyptic world (aren't they all), a sinister organization known as the Southern Cross wants to rule the wastelands. The forces of evil are represented by Lord Shin (Mandylor) and the baddie Jackal (Penn). A lone hero stands up for himself and the rights of others, a man named Kenshiro (Daniels). His "Fist of the North Star" stands in opposition to the Southern Cross. From here on out it's a fairly straightforward battle of good vs. evil with plenty of familiar faces along the way, from Melvin Van Peebles to Lockdown's (1990) Chris DeRose, among many others. Will Kenshiro beat the baddies? Fist of the North Star was originally a Japanese animation, or Manga. Someone apparently thought a Direct-To-Video live-action remake was exactly what the world needed. They even used American and British stars, but didn't change their original Japanese names. Hence credits like "And Malcolm McDowell as Ryuken". You don't see that one every day. So Gary Daniels plays a guy named Kenshiro, etc. But the real problem with this movie is that it is a mishmash of pointless, plot less gobbledygook. You don't really care too much about any of the characters, and, largely because of the closed-in sets, the whole movie has a claustrophobic and stagey vibe which doesn't do anyone any favors.Top fan favorite Gary Daniels appears to be doing his absolute best, but it's like he's trudging through syrup. It's a total post-apocalyptic slog, and without any bright spots, such as Steele Frontier's (1995) Chickenboy. It's ground that's been well-trod in the past. Downtown Julie Brown can't Wubba Wubba her way out of this one. While it's trying to be just like the anime version, with a bunch of wacky, cartoonish effects, the only time the movie really shines is in the straight-up Martial Arts fights. And most of the really good ones don't come until the end of the movie. And by that time, the viewer is saying, in frustration, "Where were these before?!??" This led us to the conclusion that if Isaac Florentine directed this movie, it would have been similar, but a lot better.As we've discussed before on this site, when it comes to movie-watching, there is a definite difference between watching a movie and waiting for a movie to be over. It's an important distinction, and because of the rampant LONE TIGER EFFECT, and the fact that at the end of the day this is just another post-apocalyptic slog, we cannot recommend Fist of the North Star. We still love Gary Daniels and all, but this is not one of his best projects, in our opinion.For more action insanity, drop by: www.comeuppancereviews.com

This was so bad... so typical Hollywood low-budget, post-apocalyptic tripe, that I aborted it after about 20 minutes. Nowhere close to as entertaining as the original anime series.The sets were cheesy. The acting was horrible. The fights were on the verge of comical... comical in the bad way, not the good way as the original was. I mean the fights were downright hilarious in the original anime. But in a GREAT way!The manga/anime went on for a LONG time. So much of the plot has to be crammed into a short amount of time that much of the detail has to be dropped on the floor never to be seen. That's one of the main issues with ANY live action version of a manga/anime.As far as character development... forgetaboutit! Again, there is only so much time in a movie. I'm sorry, but to be honest with you, I have simply lost interest in the short Hollywood movie format since having discovered the joy of long-term anime!There is nothing to recommend this interpretation. Save your time.

Take Malcolm McDowell who dies quickly, rather like the plot of this film. He is the only star in the film. I did recognise Chris Penn but I don't know what I've seen him in before, possibly Reservoir Dogs. Wrestling fans may recognise a brief appearance by Leon White also known as WCW and WWE Superstar Big Van Vader. His fight scene is most likely the best and well organised fight in the whole film.This is a manga comic or anime film that has been made into live action and it was obviously a really bad idea.No script, bad story, really bad acting and some really bad fighting scenes. I really wish I hadn't bothered watching it.